Cyclone kills and injures in Russia

Around 700 kilometers east of Moscow, a hurricane surprises tourists at a campsite. Trees fall on tents and cars. At least eight people are killed.

The violent storm hit a tent camp in a forest in the Russian republic of Mari El. The head of the republic, Yuri Zaizev, announced in the capital Yoshkar-Ola that at least eight people died, including three children. Ten people were taken to the hospital, said the city mayor of Yoshkar-Ola, Yevgeny Maslow. According to official figures, a total of 27 people were injured. Yoshkar-Ola is the largest city in the Russian Republic of Mari El, located east of Moscow on the north bank of the Volga.

The affected group of tourists had set up camp at a beach on Lake Yalchik in the forest. There - more than 700 kilometers east of Moscow - trees fell on tents and cars during the storm.

The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations said nearly 100 rescue workers were on duty to clear debris at the campsite. The holiday group had not previously registered their stay there with the authorities. The visitors also ignored the weather forecast. Hundreds of people who had come by car stayed at the lake in tents or their vehicles. According to media reports, many cars were unable to leave the region after the hurricane began on Saturday evening because the roads were blocked by fallen trees.

Many places without electricity

According to a statement from civil defense, more than 500 towns and cities in the Volga Federal District, including other republics and Mari El, were affected by the hurricane-force storm. More than 70 people were injured. The storm knocked down hundreds of trees and cut power to 520 communities. In addition, the roofs of 41 residential buildings and seven public buildings were damaged.

In the Republic of Tatarstan, according to authorities, a child died when a tree fell on a tent. It said there is damage to the roofs of more than 40 houses.